Test run gone wrong?

The old HJ45 - what a legend of a truck! After purchasing one as a project car my initial approach was to do what was required to get it registered so that I could drive it around for 6 months to 'get to know her'. But after failing a RWC and myself finding more and more 'issues' with the old girl a mate and I decided it had to be a full ground-up rebuild. But before that happened, we planned a weekend fun trip to test her out - destination: Binnies road Ripley. We trailered her out and then drove around for a few hours up different tracks, through a few bog holes (nearly stuck but not quite!) all on standard road tyres. I enjoyed it! - such character and low range tractor like drive-ability - loved taking my foot of the accelerator and just idling along in any low range gear, even up moderate inclines. Then it came time to head down the track to where the Navara and car trailer were parked. Might point out at this point that the date of this was late 2009 - after a massive year of flooding rains.. So, nearing a tame looking gully/washout section (with chicken tracks either side) my co-pilot says 'nah go up the guts she'll be right'.. And I dumbly did as directed. Pointed her up the middle of the gully and proceeded to drive directly into the gully rather than up.. Within a matter of a few seconds she'd sunk to her belly on the left side and stopped. This was at about 3.45pm. Initially I managed a small amount of movement in reverse but the suction just became to strong too quickly. What we tried: snatching with the Navara - no movement whatsoever; called a friend, tried snatching with a double locked semi comp specced Patrol ute - no movement whatsoever..

What it took to get her out: after getting on the forums, out came to our rescue a navara with a 15,000 lb winch. By this time it was 11.45pm at night, we were buggered, but inch by inch the winch worked its magic, even though it over-heated twice! And the Navara had to be tied to a massive gum tree..

So, I won't be listening to that co-driver again! lol

But really, without meaning to, that trip created some history between us and the old girl and motivation to get her all fixed up..